Spinks Wants Chance To Hold 3 Titles At Once

October 9, 1985|By Ken Paskman

Michael Spinks, the dual world champion, has appealed to the World Boxing Council to delay its order to surrender one of his two titles because he wanted to challenge Bernard Benton in hopes of holding three titles simultaneously, the WBC said Tuesday. WBC President Jose Sulaiman said Spinks, who is the WBC light-heavyweight champion and International Boxing Federation's heavyweight champion, sent a letter to Sulaiman, saying he wanted to equal world champion Henry Armstrong, who held three titles simultaneously 50 years ago. Benton is the WBC cruiserweight champion. The WBC demanded Spinks relinquish one of his titles following his victory over IBF heavyweight champion Larry Holmes, as stipulated in the WBC rules. Spinks was given an Oct. 8 deadline to abide by the rule. Sulaiman is chairing the five-day annual meeting of the WBC in Bangkok, in which 80 representatives of some 35 countries are attending to review the Council's activities and propose future changes.